Talking Jazz
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Location
Biology Building, Room 101
Start Date
19-2-2015 6:00 PM
End Date
19-2-2015 7:00 PM
Description
Jazz Improvisation is one of the most creative musical genres and provides the artist with the opportunity to create "art on the spot." In this session, I will discuss the tradition of jazz improvisation, beginning in the swing era and progressing into the current day. Many people who don't know much about jazz think that the musicians simply play any combination of notes they want when improvising, but I will introduce the audience to the framework jazz musicians use to improvise and some of the parameters for creating interesting solos that tell a story and are creative and personal in nature. I will demonstrate common improvisational techniques within performances of a few jazz compositions.
Talking Jazz
Biology Building, Room 101
Jazz Improvisation is one of the most creative musical genres and provides the artist with the opportunity to create "art on the spot." In this session, I will discuss the tradition of jazz improvisation, beginning in the swing era and progressing into the current day. Many people who don't know much about jazz think that the musicians simply play any combination of notes they want when improvising, but I will introduce the audience to the framework jazz musicians use to improvise and some of the parameters for creating interesting solos that tell a story and are creative and personal in nature. I will demonstrate common improvisational techniques within performances of a few jazz compositions.
Speaker Bio
Patrick Langham, who joined the Conservatory of Music in the fall of 2003, serves as Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies. He earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Jazz Studies from the University of Tennessee. His previous teaching positions have included Tusculum College (TN) and the University of South Carolina Upstate. As a saxophonist, Professor Langham has performed with distinguished jazz artists and in numerous jazz festivals throughout the United States and in Barcelona, Spain. As a program director, he has developed and taught courses in jazz history, theory, improvisation, and performance. He directs the Pacific Jazz Ensemble and leads his own professional groups.